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John Kevin "Jake" Ellzey Sr. (born January 24, 1970) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 6th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 10th district from January to July 2021.[1] He served in the United States Navy as a fighter pilot, completing tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.[2][3]
Jake Ellzey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 6th district | |
| Assumed office July 30, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Wright |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
| In office January 12, 2021 – July 30, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | John Wray |
| Succeeded by | Brian Harrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Kevin Ellzey January 24, 1970 Amarillo, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Shelby Hoebeke |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
| Website | House website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1992–2012 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Battles/wars | |
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Ellzey was born in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Perryton.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy in 1992.[5] Ellzey was deployed nine times in his 20 years in the Navy before becoming a commercial airline pilot.[6]
Lieutenant Ellzey studies a map during a mission in 1997
_143,_during_a_homecoming_celebration_at_Naval_Air_Station.jpg)
Ellzey meeting with Rear Admiral Richard O'Hanlon in 2009
Since retiring from the Navy, Ellzey has worked as a pilot for Southwest Airlines[7] and as a consultant. He was also a social aide in the White House Office during the Bush administration.[8] From 2012 to 2018, he was one of five commissioners of the Texas Veterans Commission.[9]
In 2018, Ellzey was an unsuccessful candidate for Texas's 6th congressional district. During his campaign, he was endorsed by The Dallas Morning News.[10] He placed second in the Republican primary, behind Ron Wright, who won the general election.
Ellzey was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2020. He took office on January 12, 2021.[1] He resigned in July 2021 to take his seat in Congress. Governor Greg Abbott set August 31, 2021, as the special election date for the Texas State House of Representatives District 10 seat that Ellzey vacated.[11][12] Republican Brian Harrison won the seat, defeating the representative who previously held the seat, John Wray.
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Elections
2021 special
On February 26, 2021, Ellzey announced his candidacy in Texas's 6th congressional district special election to replace Ron Wright, who died in office on February 7.[13][14][15][16] In the 23-candidate nonpartisan blanket primary, Ellzey finished second to Wright's widow Susan, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and 354 votes ahead of Democrat Jana Sanchez. On May 2, Sanchez conceded to Ellzey.[17] Governor Greg Abbott set July 27 as the special election runoff date.[18] Ellzey defeated Wright in the runoff, 53% to 47%.[19] He was sworn in on July 30, 2021.[7]
2022
Ellzey defeated James Buford and Bill Payne in the Republican primary election, and was re-elected unopposed in the general election.[20]
2024
Ellzey received support from AIPAC and Pro-Israel America in his re-election campaign.[21][22] He defeated Democrat John Love III, a former member of the Midland city council, in the general election with 66.4% of the vote.[23]
Tenure
At the start of the 118th Congress, Ellzey supported Rep. Kevin McCarthy in his bid for the House speakership, voting for him in all 15 rounds.[24] He later opposed the October 2023 vote to remove McCarthy as speaker, which ultimately succeeded 216–210.[25] In the succeeding election for the next speaker, Ellzey opposed the candidacy of Republican nominee Jim Jordan, choosing instead to vote for Mike Garcia. He would ultimately support the new nominee, Mike Johnson, in the fourth and final ballot.[26]
Ellzey was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that visited Tel Aviv in June 2024, meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Yoav Gallant.[27][28]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
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Ellzey voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[31][32]
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ron Wright | 20,659 | 45.1 | |
| Republican | Jake Ellzey | 9,956 | 21.7 | |
| Republican | Ken Cope | 3,527 | 7.7 | |
| Republican | Shannon Dubberly | 2,880 | 6.3 | |
| Republican | Mark Mitchell | 2,141 | 4.7 | |
| Republican | Troy Ratterree | 1,854 | 4.0 | |
| Republican | Kevin Harrison | 1,768 | 3.9 | |
| Republican | Deborah Gagliardi | 1,674 | 3.7 | |
| Republican | Thomas Dillingham | 543 | 1.2 | |
| Republican | Shawn Dandridge | 517 | 1.1 | |
| Republican | Mel Hassell | 266 | 0.6 | |
| Total votes | 45,785 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ron Wright | 12,747 | 52.2 | |
| Republican | Jake Ellzey | 11,686 | 47.8 | |
| Total votes | 24,433 | 100 | ||
2020
Election results:[34]
| District | Democratic | Republican | Libertarian | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 10 | - | - | 65,062 | 75.83% | 20,733 | 24.17% | 85,795 | 100.00% | Republican Hold |
2021
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Susan Wright | 15,052 | 19.21 | |
| Republican | Jake Ellzey | 10,851 | 13.85 | |
| Democratic | Jana Sanchez | 10,497 | 13.39 | |
| Republican | Brian Harrison | 8,476 | 10.81 | |
| Democratic | Shawn Lassiter | 6,964 | 8.89 | |
| Republican | John Anthony Castro | 4,321 | 5.51 | |
| Democratic | Tammy Allison Holloway | 4,238 | 5.41 | |
| Democratic | Lydia Bean | 2,920 | 3.73 | |
| Republican | Michael Wood | 2,503 | 3.19 | |
| Republican | Michael Ballantine | 2,224 | 2.84 | |
| Republican | Dan Rodimer | 2,086 | 2.66 | |
| Democratic | Daryl J. Eddings Sr. | 1,652 | 2.11 | |
| Republican | Mike Egan | 1,543 | 1.97 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Moses | 1,189 | 1.52 | |
| Democratic | Manuel R. Salazar III | 1,119 | 1.43 | |
| Republican | Sery Kim | 888 | 1.13 | |
| Republican | Travis Rodermund | 460 | 0.59 | |
| Independent | Adrian Mizher | 351 | 0.45 | |
| Democratic | Brian K. Stephenson | 271 | 0.35 | |
| Libertarian | Phil Gray | 265 | 0.34 | |
| Democratic | Matthew Hinterlong | 252 | 0.32 | |
| Republican | Jennifer Garcia Sharon | 150 | 0.19 | |
| Democratic | Chris Suprun | 102 | 0.13 | |
| Total votes | 78,374 | 100 | ||
2021 (runoff)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake Ellzey | 20,837 | 53.27 | |
| Republican | Susan Wright | 18,279 | 46.73 | |
| Total votes | 39,116 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake Ellzey (incumbent) | 149,321 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 149,321 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
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Ellzey and his wife Shelby have two children. They live near Midlothian, Texas.[7]
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